Painting advice from the North Shore since 1969
Painting Tips, Fixes, and Straight Answers From Pete
Fifty-seven years of painting Northbrook, Winnetka, Glenview, Evanston, and the rest of the North Shore, and what we have learned along the way: exterior paint that lasts, brick done right, deck stain that holds, and colors you will still love in ten years.
Topic
Exterior Painting Tips and Guides
How to paint the outside of a North Shore home so it lasts: prep, primer, siding, trim, and the mistakes that cause peeling by the second winter.
October 12, 2026
The North Shore Exterior Painting Checklist: 14 Steps From Wash to Final Coat
Everything a lasting exterior paint job needs, in order: washing, mildew, scraping, repairs, primer, caulk, paint quality, weather,…
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October 12, 2026
Painting Historic Homes in Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Lake Forest
Old-growth wood, lead paint, landmark reviews, and colors that belong to the period. What changes when the house…
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October 12, 2026
Exterior Paint Colors for North Shore Homes: Tudor, Colonial, Brick, and Cedar
How to pick an exterior color that suits the house you actually have. Tudors, colonials, brick ranches, cedar…
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October 12, 2026
When to Book Exterior Painting on the North Shore (and Why Spring Fills Up)
The exterior season here is short, the first warm weekend fills every painter's calendar, and the homeowners who…
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Topic
Brick and Masonry Painting Guides
Painting, whitewashing, and refreshing brick and mortar inside and out, including when paint helps and when it hurts.
October 12, 2026
Painting Interior Brick and Fireplaces: What Works and What to Avoid
Whitewash the fireplace or paint it solid? Which paint survives the heat, how to prep soot-stained brick, how…
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October 12, 2026
Whitewash vs Limewash vs Painted Brick: Which One for Your Home
Three ways to lighten a brick house, and they are not interchangeable. What each one looks like, how…
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October 10, 2026
Painting Exterior Brick on the North Shore: The Complete Guide
Should you paint your brick house? What product survives Chicago winters, how the prep works, what goes wrong,…
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Topic
Interior, Color, and Deck Guides
Choosing colors you will not regret, interior projects, and keeping decks and outdoor wood looking new.
October 12, 2026
Exterior Paint Colors for North Shore Homes: Tudor, Colonial, Brick, and Cedar
How to pick an exterior color that suits the house you actually have. Tudors, colonials, brick ranches, cedar…
Read the guide
October 12, 2026
Painting Interior Brick and Fireplaces: What Works and What to Avoid
Whitewash the fireplace or paint it solid? Which paint survives the heat, how to prep soot-stained brick, how…
Read the guide
October 12, 2026
Whitewash vs Limewash vs Painted Brick: Which One for Your Home
Three ways to lighten a brick house, and they are not interchangeable. What each one looks like, how…
Read the guide
October 11, 2026
Spring Deck Staining: Get Your Outdoor Space Ready for Summer
Your deck took a beating this winter. Here's how to bring it back to life with the right…
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Have a painting question Pete has not answered yet?
Ask us. Pete answers the common ones in the FAQ, and the rest on a free estimate visit, where he looks at your surfaces and tells you straight what they need.